Covered carton



Feb- 9, 1965 K. T. BUTTERY ETAL. 3,168,974

COVERED CARTN Filed Nov. 14, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. j -j- /4 KW7/76777 Zufaf ATTO/NEX Feb- 9, 1965 K. T. BUTTERY ETAL. 3,168,974

COVERED CARTON Filed Nov. 14, 1960 2 SheeftspSheet 2 TTONEX United States Patent Otice 3,168,974 Patented Feb. 9, 1965 3,168,974 COVERED CARTON Kenneth T. Buttery and Thomas Vander Lugt, Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich., assignors to KVP Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 68,940 8 Claims. (5l. 229--51) This invention relates to covered cartons. The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a covered carton in which the contents as originally packaged are eliectively sealed and at the same time a carton which may be quickly opened and reclosed.

Second, to provide a carton having the hereinbefore stated advantages which is adapted for the packaging oi relatively heavy food products and the like.

Third, to provide a carton adapted for the packaging of relatively heavy products which may be formed of relatively thin or light gauge stock.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton embodying our invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View in vertical section on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 3--3 of FIG. l.

FIG; 4 is a cross sectional view with the carton open to expose the contents.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the iirst step in the opening of the carton..

`which are hingedly connected to the edges of the bottom. AThe inner front wall member 2 is of slightly less height than the rear wall and the end Walls 4 which are of the same height, see FIG.7. Outer end wall members S are hingedly connected to the rear wall 3, and outer end wall members 6 are hingedly connected to the inner front wall member 2. The top 7 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear Wall 3 and is provided with end aps 8 which are duplicates and hingedly connected to the end edges of the top.

An outer front wall member, designated generally by the numeral 9, comprises the upper section 1i) and the lower section 11 connected by the tear strip 12. This outer front wall member is provided with end flaps designated generally by the numeral 13 land which comprises upper sections 14 and lower sections 1S connected by the tear strip 16, which is an extension of or a par-t of the tear strip 12. The outer front wall member 9 and its aps t are of the same height or vertical width. The outer end wall members 5 and 6 are complementary and are disposed edge to edge as indicated at 17 in FIG. 6. The outer front wall member tlaps 13 are of such length that they overlap the joint between the end wall members 5 and 6, see FIG. 6.

The cover end laps 8 overlap and are adhesively secured to the flap portions 14 of the outer front wall member. Desirably no portion of the tear strip is adhered to therwalls which it overlaps. Adhesive is conventionally shown at 18 on the inner sides of `the outer end wall members 5, the cover aps 8 and the portions 15 of the end flaps 13 below the lower severing score 19. The lower portions of the front wall 2 and the end wall members 6 are provided With adhesive on the outer sides thereof below the portion 18 indicated by the dot and dash lines in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that this adhesive could be applied to the inner side of the outer front wall member 9 below the severing score thereof.

A desirable practice is for the manufacturer of the carton to adhesively secure the outer wall member to the inner front wall member along the adhesive zone 18 indicated, and the cartons are delivered or distributed in this condition. Thus arranged, the user erects and seals one set of end wall members. The carton is then filled and the other set of end wall members is closed and sealed. This provides a very strong and rigid carton or container well adaptedA for contents of considerable weight such, for example, as ice cream, cottage cheese, or the like.

The upper tear strip perforations 19 are desirably in alignment with the lower edges of the cover flaps, as is illustrated. The tear strip is of such width that it may be conveniently grasped and desirably has a finger tab 20 at one end thereof formed by notches 21 in the edge of one of the aps 13. With this arrangement of parts, the tear strip can be conveniently grasped and removed by an outward pull, as is indicated in FIG. 5, freeing the cover for opening and closing. Other tear strip construe tions such as the rip cord type may also be used. Adhesive is conventionally illustrated in some of the gures, see FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 7.

`Cartons `embodying our invention are well adapted for packaging of relatively heavy food products, that is, heavyas compared to volume such, for example, as cottage cheese, ice cream andthe like, and as the contents of ,cartons designed for such foods are commonly not all served at onetime or the cartons completely emptied, it

'is desirable that they maybe reclosed and provide an eiiective enclosure for the contents. The cartons iilled and closed for distribution are capable of withstanding heavy stresses to which theyare subjected in handling and merchandising such, for example, as stacking even when formed of.relatively light stock.

One of the advantages of the applicants structure is that when the container is filled and sealed, it cannot be opened and reclosed without such opening being evidenced. This comment is made for the reason that it is common and believed to be the general practice to package ice cream, for example, in containers provided with closure flaps which can be opened and closed without any evidence resulting from the fact that they have been opened and reclosed. One of the accomplished objects of applicants invention is to provide a container which is elfectively sealed when closed and may be quickly opened and may be reclosed to protect conten remaining in the container. It will be noted by reference to FIG. 7 that there is very little waste stock. In FIG. 7 the folding scores are indicated conventionally at :22.

The carton blanks are supplied to the packager in the iiat and they may be readily set up with the aid of machines or devices which may be used in the packaging processes. Such machines or devices are not illustrated as they form no part of this invention.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not illustrated or described certain modications or adaptations which may be desirable for particular uses, :as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those'skilled in the art to adapt or embody our invention as may be desired for such particular uses. n

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as. new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. carton formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom, a rear wall, an inner front wall member, and inner end wall'members, rear and front outer end wall members on the end edges of said rear wall and said inner Ifront wall member disposed in overlapping relation to said inner end wall members, said rear wall, inner front 'wall member and inner end wall members being of uniform height, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall and provided with end ilaps,

an -outer `front wall member on the swinging edge of saidcover provided with end ilaps disposed in overlapping relation to said outer end wall members, said cover end flaps being disposed in overlapping relation with respect to and secured to upper portions of said end flaps on said outer front wall member, said outer fre-ont wall membr and its said end aps having vertically spaced fracturing `scores extending throughout the length thereof, the upper of said fracturing scores being substantially aligned with the lower edges of said cover Iiiaps, rsaid outer front wall member being secured to said inner frontwall member and its end flaps being` in overlapping relation with andibeing secured to said rear outer end wall members below the lower of said yfracturing scores. i

2. A carton formed of an integral blank cut .and scored to provide a bottom, a rear wall, an inner yfront wall member, and inner end wall members,rear and front outer end v wall members on the end edges of said rear wall and said inner front wall member disposed in overlapping relation to said inner end wall members, a cover hingedly 'connected to the upper edge of said rear wall and provided with end apsan outer front wall member on the swinging edge of said cover provided with end ilaps disposedin overlapping relation to said outer end wall members, said cover end iaps being disposed in overlapping relation to and secured to upper portions of said end flaps on said outer front wall member, said outer front wall member and its said end diaps having vertically spaced fracturing scores extending throughout the length thereof, thefupper of said fracturing scores being substantially aligned with the lower edges of said cover Iflaps, said outer front wall member being secured to said inner front wall member and its end ilaps overlying and being secured to said rear outer end wall members below :the lower of said fracturing scores,

3. A carton formed'of an vintegral blank cut and scored to provide a bottom, 1a ,rear wall, an inner front wall member,` and inner end wall members, rear and front outer end wall members Vorithe end edges of said rear wall 'and said inner ffront `)avail member disposed in overlapping relation to saidfinner'end wall members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall and provided with end ilaps, an outer front wall member on the swinging yedge of said cover provided with end flaps disposedl in overlapping relation to said outer end wall members on said inner-front wall, said cover end iiaps being disposed in overlapping relation to yand' secured to upper portions of said endilaps on said outer front wall member, said outer `front wall member :and its said end flaps having a horizontally disposed fracturing zone therein and said -front wall member being secured to said inner front wall member and its end flaps overlapping and extending transversely beyond the edges of the end ilaps of said i front outer end wall members and being secured to said rear outer end wall members below said racturing zone,- the lower edges of the cover end iaps being positioned above said `fracturing zone.

4. A carton formed of an integral blank out and scored to provide a bottom, a rear wall, an inner front wall member, and inner end wall members, rear and front outer end wall members on the end edges ot said rear wall and Said inner front wall member disposed in :overlapping relation to said inner end wall members, a coverhing'e'dly conf' nected to the upper edge of said rear wall arid prdvided with end flaps, an outer front wall member on the swinging*r edge of said cover provided with end ilaps disposed iri overlapping relation to said outer end wall members ori said inner vfront wall and overlapping and being secured to said rear outer end wall members, said cover end ilaps being disposed in overlapping relation with respect to and secured to upper portions of said `end flaps on said outer front wall member, said outer front wall member and its said end flaps having elongated fracturing means integral therewith disposed above their securing means :to said inner front wall and said vouterend wall members, the lower edges of the cover end iiaps being positioned above said elongated fracturing means.

' 5. A carton according to claim 4, whereirthe frorit and rear outer end wall members are free of adhesive securement to eachother. v

6. A carton according to claim 4, wherein the Afront and rear outer end wall members `are in abutting relationship;

7. An integral blank for forming a carton cut .and Scored to provide a bottom, a rear wall, an inner front wall member, andinner end wall members, rearan front outer end wall members on the end edges of sai rear wall and said inner `front wall member adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation to said inner eidv walJ members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge f said rear wall and provided with endl ilap's, an outer yfront wall member on the swinging edge ot" said cover provided with end iiaps adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation t-o saidouter end Wall members onV Said inner front wall, said outer front Wall end ilaps being of suicient length to overlap and to be secured Vto said rear outer-end wall members, said cover end aps being adapted no be disposed in overlapping relation with respect to and to bel secured to upper portions of said end ilaps on said outer front wall member, means for securing said outer front wall end flaps to said rear outer end wall members, slaid outer front wall member 4and its said end flaps having lonf gated fracturing means inte-gral therewith disposed above` the means for securement of said outer front wall end iiaps to said rear outer end wall members when said carton is erected, the cover end iiaps being of such a length that their lower edges are positioned above said elongated fracturing means when said carton is erected `and closed.

8. An integral blank for forming a carton cut and scored t-o provide a bottom, a rear wall, an `inner front wall mem ber, and inner end 'wall members, rear and front outer" end Iwall members on the end edges of said rear wall and said inner front wall member adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation to said inner end wall members, a cover hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall and provided with end iiaps, an outer front wall member on the swinging edge ofV said cover provided with end flaps adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation to said outer end wall members on said inner front wall, said cover end iiaps being adapted tobe disposed in overlapping relation with respect to and to be secured to upper portions of said end iiaps on said outer front wall member, said outer lfront wall member and its said end ilaps having a generally horizontally disposed fracturing zone therein and said outer front wall member being adapted to be secured to said inner front wall member and its end ilaps being of sufcient length to overlap and to be secured to said rear outer end wall members below said fracturing zone when a carton is erected from said 2,018,707 10/35 Daller 229-51 X 2,114,134 4/38 Weiss 229-51 X 6 `2,348,377 5 44 Goodyear 229-44 2,83 6,3-43 5/5 8 Will 2219-44 3,111,255 11/63 Skowronski 229-51 FOREIGN PATENTS 345,351 11/04 France.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE I. DRUMMOND, THERON E. CONDON,

FRANKLIN T. GARR-ETT, Examiners. 

1. A CARTON FORMED OF AN INTEGRAL BLANK CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE A BOTTOM, A REAR WALL, AN INNER FRONT WALL MEMBER, AND INNER END WALL MEMBERS, REAR AND FRONT OUTER END WALL MEMBERS ON THE END EDGES OF SAID REAR WALL AND SAID INNER FRONT WALL MEMBER DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID INNER END WALL MEMBERS, SAID REAR WALL, INNER FRONT WALL MEMBER AND INNER END WALL MEMBERS BEING OF UNIFORM HEIGHT, A COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID REAR WALL AND PROVIDED WITH END FLAPS, AN OUTER FRONT WALL MEMBER ON THE SWINGING EDGE OF SAID COVER PROVIDED WITH END FLAPS DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO SAID OUTER END WALL MEMBERS, SAID COVER END FLAPS BEING DISPOSED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO AND SECURED TO UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID END FLAPS ON SAID OUTER FRONT WALL MEMBER, SAID OUTER FRONT WALL MEMBER AND ITS SAID END FLAPS HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED FRACTURING SCORES EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, THE UPPER OF SAID FRACTURING SCORES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED WITH THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID COVER FLAPS, SAID OUTTER FRONT WALL MEMBER BEING SECURED TO SAID INNER FRONT WALL MEMBER AND ITS END FLAPS BEING IN OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH AND BEING SECURED TO SAID REAR OUTER END WALL MEMBERS BELOW THE LOWER OF SAID FRACTURING SCORES. 